Festive celebrations often bring increased indulgence in rich foods and sweets, leading many to rely heavily on over-the-counter medications for headaches, acid reflux, and colds. However, improper use of painkillers, antacids, and cold remedies can strain organs like the kidneys, cause dangerous stomach irritation, or lead to accidental overdoses. Individuals managing chronic illnesses, particularly diabetes, must be especially cautious with their medication and fasting schedules to avoid severe health complications. Furthermore, avoiding unnecessary antibiotics for viral infections and limiting alcohol consumption with medications helps prevent adverse side effects. By staying hydrated, checking medicine labels carefully, and choosing homemade festive treats, families can enjoy a safe and healthy holiday season.

Festive celebrations often bring increased indulgence in rich foods and sweets, leading many to rely heavily on over-the-counter medications for headaches, acid reflux, and colds. However, improper use of painkillers, antacids, and cold remedies can strain organs like the kidneys, cause dangerous stomach irritation, or lead to accidental overdoses. Individuals managing chronic illnesses, particularly diabetes, must be especially cautious with their medication and fasting schedules to avoid severe health complications. Furthermore, avoiding unnecessary antibiotics for viral infections and limiting alcohol consumption with medications helps prevent adverse side effects. By staying hydrated, checking medicine labels carefully, and choosing homemade festive treats, families can enjoy a safe and healthy holiday season.

Festive celebrations often bring increased indulgence in rich foods and sweets, leading many to rely heavily on over-the-counter medications for headaches, acid reflux, and colds. However, improper use of painkillers, antacids, and cold remedies can strain organs like the kidneys, cause dangerous stomach irritation, or lead to accidental overdoses. Individuals managing chronic illnesses, particularly diabetes, must be especially cautious with their medication and fasting schedules to avoid severe health complications. Furthermore, avoiding unnecessary antibiotics for viral infections and limiting alcohol consumption with medications helps prevent adverse side effects. By staying hydrated, checking medicine labels carefully, and choosing homemade festive treats, families can enjoy a safe and healthy holiday season.

During festive periods, we tend to indulge in sweet treats and heavy snacks, stay up late entertaining guests, and celebrate long into the night. Consequently, we often find ourselves reaching for the medicine cabinet more frequently. Large meals, rich foods, and dust-laden air frequently leave us suffering from headaches, acid reflux, and sore throats, driving us straight to our medicine cabinet. 

The most commonly used drugs are painkillers such as ibuprofen and diclofenac. These are great for aching muscles; however, they can cause irritation to the stomach. If someone isn’t eating healthy food or drinking enough water, it can cause strain on the kidneys. If you’re taking medication for high blood pressure, or have kidney issues, you must be careful.

Paracetamol is a gentler option. However, many cold and flu medications contain paracetamol. If we take a paracetamol for a headache, a cold tablet at night and a syrup for our cough, we may exceed our safe daily dose of 4g. If you regularly drink alcohol, you should keep well under this amount.

Antacids seem harmless after overeating; however, many can contain high amounts of sodium and other harmful ingredients.

Anti-allergic medication can cause drowsiness. Combined with a drink at your Diwali party, the effects will be more pronounced. Driving after taking this medication is risky.

If you have diabetes, you must be careful. If you are taking medication to reduce blood sugar levels (glimepiride/gliclazide) or insulin and you do not eat during your fast (Karva Chauth/Navratri), you can get dangerously low blood sugars. Contact your doctor a few days before your fast to adjust your dose. Be careful, as the sweets can cause high blood sugar.

Due to the change in weather and dusty air from Diwali, you will likely get coughs and colds. These are usually caused by viruses, so antibiotics aren’t needed. Randomly taking antibiotics will make them less effective when needed.

Try to be patient. Check the label and make sure you know what the active ingredient is. Don’t take two products containing the same medicine. Drink plenty of water, especially if taking painkillers. Don’t alter your diabetes or blood pressure medication. If you have asthma, ensure you have your inhaler to hand.

Keep to your usual diet and medication during the festive period. Sometimes it is easy to forget about your health during this time. Children are more likely to have accidents during the festive period, so extra care should be taken.

Try to avoid eating too many sweets as this can affect both adults and children. Overeating can cause problems with digestion. Try to avoid oily foods, sweets, unhealthy snacks, takeaways and alcohol. Try to cook at home and have homemade sweets to make the festive period healthier.

Drink lots of water. Keeping healthy will help you to avoid going to the medicine cabinet unnecessarily.

Have fun but be careful!

The author is a physician and diabetologist based in New Delhi. 

 

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of THE WEEK.